A few years ago, I first discussed the concept of the “Chinese stomach,” which describes the preference of Chinese diners for Chinese food over other types of food. My initial article focused on Chinese travelers who prefer to eat Chinese food — even of inferior quality — on their trips, rather than what might be considered higher quality host country food.
Doubters argued that tour operators served low-quality Chinese food to cut costs, but I found the “Chinese stomach” at work throughout the United States under other manifestations. For instance, Chinese food is used to entice Chinese Americans to casinos along the East and West Coasts. When college campuses see surging Mainland Chinese student populations, authentic Chinese restaurants and food trucks quickly follow. On these campuses, some Chinese students will even shell out $50 delivery charges for food from far-flung restaurants. And at upscale shopping malls frequented by well-heeled Chinese tourists, Chinese restaurants either open onsite or nearby restaurants adapt their menus to serve these visitors.
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When you visit Washington, D.C. and want to grab a meal away from the hustle-and-bustle of the tourist hot-spots, locals will point you in the direction of Adams Morgan. Adams Morgan is a late-night locale recently dubbed Eater DC’s 2018 Dining Neighborhood of the Year. The eclectic neighborhood provides a diverse cultural assortment of eateries and a variety of restaurant types. Besides its growth as a locals’ go-to for dining, restaurants in Adams Morgan are gaining national recognition with notable award wins and nominations. Five of the best places to eat in Adams Morgan are listed below.
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With almost 2.4 million acres, Spain boasts the biggest vineyard area in the world. Though Spain trails Italy and France as the third biggest wine producer, it ranks first in wine exporting — meaning you can probably find Spanish wines near you.
Spain’s diverse geography enable the conditions for producing an impressive variety of wines, including many affordable options. In fact, there are 14 wine regions in the country and over 60 different regional DOs (Denominación de Origen).
Selecting a Spanish wine does not have to be a daunting task. Let’s learn about Spain’s wines and its regions, so you can confidently choose a nice bottle to try.
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Photo: urbanoasis.org
Three mega-Chinese communities in the United States—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York—are each home to more than 600,000 Chinese Americans. But L.A. stands out in a peculiar way. Unlike San Francisco and New York, where authentic Chinese food has been fairly well geographically dispersed for a number of years, the Los Angeles area until quite recently concentrated its authentic Chinese food in just a handful of places, especially the San Gabriel Valley. Why?
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Processed cheese is cheaper than natural cheese, making it popular with fast-food chains and restaurants. Processed cheese has emulsifiers to boost its taste, and with its ubiquity in our culture, an untrained tongue might find a mild natural cheese lacking in flavor. Let’s explore five features of processed cheese and learn about this cheesy innovation.
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